Breech-closure.



M. HERMSDORF.

BREEGH CLOSURE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12,1910.

Patented May 26, 1914.

coumnm FMROORAPH 10 ,WASHIN5TON D c MAX HERMSDORF, 0F ESSEN-ON-THE-RUHB, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO FRIED. KRUP]? AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, 0F ESSEN-ON-THE-BUHR, GERMANY.

BaEEcnmcLosURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May as, 1914.

Application filed September 12, 1910. Serial No. 581,620.

To all an ham it may concern Be it known that I, MAX HERMSDORF, av

subject of the Emperor of Germany, and a resident of Essen-onethe-Ruhr, Germany, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Breech-Closures, of which the requires that it must be thrown out by the extractor or .any other part of the breech mechanism, before the extraction of cartridge-case takes place, so that it does not check the extraction of the cartridge-case.

This invention aims at arranging catches of this kind, so that they may'function inclependent of other parts of the breech mechanism. 1

In the accompanying drawing, the inventionis shown for usein connection with a wedge breech closure.

Figure 1 is a vertical, longitudinal section through the breechof the gun, with the wedge removed. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the catch and a part of the gun breech. Fig. 3' is a rear'viewof Fig. l partly in section at of Fig. 1.. Fig. 4 is a partof the representation in Fig. 1 with the catch in a different position, and Fig. 5 a rear View of Fig.4 partly in section 55 of Fig. 4:.

Referring ,to the structure in detail A is the breech of the gun and the breech-opening is indicated by A. l Near the front-face latches engage with each other. Both arms of the latch D D and the arm C of the latch C C have measured lengthwise in the gun considerably less breadth than the space of, while the latch arm 0 measured similarly has the same breadth as the recess a This arm, which grips over the latch arm D is intended to bring about the drawing in of the latches. A spring E holds the latches in I the downpressed position in the recess a as indicated in Figs. 1 to 3. The recess has such a-shape, transversely to the gun-axis, that the cartridge case with its flange B shown in dot and dash-line in Fig. 3 may slide along on the sides a of said recess and over the latch arms G G andD D without throwing in the latch; On the other hand it is possible for the projectilethe base of which is indicated with' dot-and-dash-lines in Figs. 4 and 5-to enter deep enough in the recess a that it presses down the latcharm C and thereby puts the latches in the stop or holding position.

Before the loading of the gun, the latches G O and D D take the position shown in Figs. 1 to 3. In inserting the projectile in the breech opening it slides along on the latches C G and D D. As soon as it has reached the position indicated by dot-and dash-lines in Figs. 4: and5, (11. e. as soon as the base of the projectile G has left the latch arms 0, D and lies on the extension of the latch arm G that is nearest the chamber) then the latch arm G will'be pressed down by the weight of the projectile and as a consequence the latch arms C, D willbe turned up behind the base of the projectile into the position shown in Figs. l and 5. The projectile is now prevented from sliding back out of the breech opening. When the projectile is pushed fully home, and as soon as its base has left the latch-arm C, the latches will return to the position shown in Figs. 1 to 3, being acted upon by the spring E. The insertion of the cartridge in the cham ber of the gun, will not influence the latches C C and D D, as the base flange B of the cartridge case has a considerably larger diameter than the base of the projectile and, consequently can slide along the trough shaped walls of the breech opening as well as on the edges a of the recess a without pressing down the latch-arm G; and for this reason the latches do notprevent the.

ejection of the cartridge case. By placing loading of the gun is facilitated, as the pro jectile does not need to be pushed far into the gun to get the catch into operation.

lVithout changing the substance of the invention, the spring E which holds the latch in the pressed down position, might be left out, as the weight of the latches C C and D D is so divided in relation to their turning axis that the latchesfrom the working of the weight will return into their retracted position.

hat is claimed is V 1. The combination with a gun barrel having a breech closure opening, of a means for preventing the sliding back of the projectile comprising a latch mounted in the wall of the breech, means adapted to hold said latch out of the engaging position before and after the loading operation, and means adapted to throw said latch into the engaging position by cooperation with the projectile to be inserted.

2. The combination with a gun barrel having a breech closure opening, of a means for preventing the sliding back of the projectile comprising a latch arranged in the wall of the breech and adapted to be out of the engaging position before and after the loading operation, and an inwardly extended part on the latch adapted to be depressed by the pressure of the projectile resting thereagainst and adapted to throw thereby said latch into the engaging position.

3. The combination with a gun barrel having a breech closure opening, of a means for preventing the sliding back of the projectile, comprising a latch pivotally mounted in the wall of the breech and adapted to be out of the engaging position before and after the loading operation, and an inwardly extended part on the latch adapted to be depressed by the weight of the projectileresting thereagainst and adapted to throw thereby said latch into the engaging position, said latch and inwardly extended part being mounted within a recess of the breech, the operating point of said inwardly extended part being normally retired below the profile of a cylindrical surface of the wall of the breech, the diameter of which is approximately the same as that of the cartridge but larger than that of the projectile, so as to permit the latch to be thrown into the engaging position by the Weight of the projectile during the loading operation, but permitting of the insertion of the cartridge without effecting the actuation of the latch.

4. The combination with a gun barrel having a breech closure opening, of a means located in a recess in close proximity to the rear face of the breech of the gun barrel for preventing the sliding back of the projectile; said means comprising a pair of transversely disposed two-armed levers pivotally mounted within said recess, an inner arm of one of the levers overlying the inner arm of the other lever and formed with an inwardly disposed member, said levers constructed to support the projectile during a part of the loading operation, and said inwardly disposed member adapted to be engaged by the projectile on the further loading operation and effect to throw into engaging position the outer arms of the levers through the medium of the engaged inner arms thereof; said inwardly disposed member adapted to be released and the levers returned to the inoperative position on the completion of the loading of the projectile, and the wall adjacent the recess permitting of the loading of the cartridge out of contact with the levers.

The foregoing specification signed at Germany, this '24-th day of August, 1910. 7

MAX HERMSDORF. In presence of R. P. THOMPSON, MARIE DIETZE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained i'or five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

